Dyson is suing Samsung for patent infringement, claiming its new range of
vacuum cleaners uses technology copyrighted by the British company.

Sir James Dyson, the entrepreneur behind the company, attacked the Samsung for "a cynical rip off" that had "forced" him to take the matter to the courts.

The company alleges that the Korean company's new "MotionSync" range infringed Dyson patents on how a vacuum cleaner moves. It claims that the steering mechanism on the cleaner - which enables it to travel more easily around corners and table legs, and over carpets - is a direct copy of Dyson's DC37 and DC39 models, which were introduced last year.

Samsung said the claims were "groundless" and that it would take all necessary measures "to protect our technological innovation".

"This looks like a cynical rip off by the giant Korean company Samsung. Although they are copying Dyson's patented technology, their machine is not the same," Sir James said.

"Samsung has many patent lawyers so I find it hard not to believe that this is a deliberate or utterly reckless infringement of our patent. We have been forced to issue proceedings in the English High Court, but I would much rather invest in research to develop new technology than have to sue."

Dyson's models pivot on a central ball rather than with the usual two-wheel design employed by most vacuum cleaners. It says it spent three years developing the design, and that the steering mechanism on vacuum cleaners of this type had been unchanged for decades before its products were developed.

Dyson claims the steering mechanism used in its DC39 (left) was copied by Samsung's Motion Sync (right)

It has taken the matter to the High Court in a bid to force Samsung to take its products off the shelves.

Samsung is no stranger to litigation, having been pursued by Apple around the world for allegedly copying the design of the iPhone in its Galaxy range of smartphones.

However, Dyson said this case was very different to the litigation between Apple and Samsung, because it focused on engineering patents rather than design rights.

Samsung said: "The Samsung Motion Sync is an outcome of our own extensive research and development.

"We will take all necessary measures, including legal actions, to protect our technological innovation against Dyson’s groundless claims”